IKEA becomes largest retail wind energy investor in Canada

November 15, 2013

IKEA Canada announced it has purchased a 46 megawatt wind farm in Pincher Creek, Alberta. The 20-turbine wind farm will be the largest owned by a Canadian retailer and is expected to generate 161 gigawatt hours (GWh) each year, which is more than double the total energy consumption of IKEA Canada. The project is currently being constructed by global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power and is expected to be fully operational in fall 2014.

"IKEA Canada's investment in renewable energy is a win-win-win. We are able to support the transition to a low-carbon future, reduce our energy and operating costs, and pass those benefits on to our customers by continuing to offer high quality home furnishings at low prices," says Kerri Molinaro, president of IKEA Canada. "This wind farm in Alberta, along with existing solar installations at three of our Ontario stores, is a significant step to achieving Ikea's global ambition to be energy independent by 2020, producing more renewable energy than we consume."

The wind farm's expected annual production of 161 GWh is equivalent to:

Thirty-two Ikea stores' electricity consumption;

Sixty percent of Ikea Group electricity consumption in North America;

Eight percent of Ikea Group electricity consumption worldwide; and

13,500 average Canadian households' electricity consumption.

The 20 turbines to be erected are Siemens' model SWT-2.3-101, 2.3 MW turbines with a rotor diameter of 101 meters, a hub height of 80 meters and blade length of 49 meters. While the wind farm will be owned fully by Ikea Canada it has been developed, is being constructed, and will be operated by Mainstream Renewable Power. The turbines will be located in the municipality of Pincher Creek, approximately 215 KMs south of Calgary. The power generated will be delivered onto Alberta's energy grid, thereby increasing the availability of renewable energy to a growing energy market.

The IKEA Group has now committed to own 157 wind turbines worldwide and has installed over 500,000 solar panels on its buildings in nine countries. To date, the company has invested in wind farms in seven other markets: Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Poland, the United Kingdom and Ireland.